Centrifugal pump



Sept. 23, 1958 A, RENSQN CENTRIFUGL PUMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 6. 1955 Sept. 23, 1958 A. RENsoN CENTBIFUGAL PUMP Filed Jan. 6, 1955 2 Sheets-Sneekl 2 United States Patent Office 2,853,017 Patented Sept. 23, 1958 CENTRIFUGAL PUMP Albert Renson, Montignies le Tilleul, Belgium Application January 6, 1955, Serial No. 480,124

Claims priority, application Belgium January 12, 1954 1 Claim. (Cl. 103-87) This invention relates to centrifugal pumps and more especially to a pump adapted for use in the household which discharges the water in the form of a free jet or a jet under pressure.

It is an object of the invention to provide a pump of this type which starts and works without requiring any packing around the turbine shaft.

Itis a further object of the invention to provide a pump the driving means for which between the motor and the pump are free to work without being in contact with water under pressure.

The pump according to this invention is characterized by the presence of two separate compartments situated at the same level above the turbine and around the turbine shaft which communicate with the rotor compartment of the turbine, one of them communicating with the delivery tube of the pump, while the other communicates with the sucked-in liquid through a slot provided in the body of the turbine, but which does not communicate with the turbine proper.

In the drawings affixed to this specification and forming part thereof an embodiment of the invention is illustrated diagrammatically by way of example.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is an axial section.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, drawn to a smaller scale, of the top part of the pump.

Fig. 3 shows in axial section a detail of the intake tube.

Fig. 4 illustrates a detail of the discharge means.

Fig. 5 is an elevation, partly in section, drawn to a smaller scale, of the top part of the pump.

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of this part.

Figs. 7 and 8 are an elevation and a bottom view, respectively, of the cover of the turbine chamber.

Figs. 9 and l0 are similar views of the turbine rotor.

Figs. l1 and 12 are similar views of the turbine casing, and

Fig. 13 is an elevation, on a smaller scale, of the bottom section of the pump.

Referring to the drawings, the pump casing proper consists of two main parts 1 and 2. The part 2 is connected by a threaded tube 3 with the intake tube 4. The tube 3 is seated above a flange 6 which surrounds the lower part of a valve case 7 which presents a tight seat 3 to the valve body 9. Between the flange 6 and another flange l@ surrounding the top of the intake tube 4 a joint 11 is provided by the cap nut 12 which by means of its bottom flange 13 tightens the parts 2, 4 .and 7.

In accordance with this invention, now, the top part 1 is formed with a partition 14 which is pierced by two slots 15 and 16, respectively, the lirst one of which communicates with the intake compartment by way of a slot 18 in the cover 19, which is inserted between the partition 14 and the casing 20 of the turbine 21, and by way of another slot 22 (Fig. l2) in the turbine casing.

The cover 19 is integral with a sleeve 23 through which extends the turbine shaft 24 which is formed on top with a square end 25 at which the driving mechanism transz. mits to this shaft the power generated by an electromotor or the like.

Across a slot 26 in the cover 19 the turbine 21 (Fig. 2) exerts its sucking action onto `the slot 15and forces the liquid through `another slot 27 in the cover 19 towards the compartment 16.

The discharge tube 28 formed integral with the part 1 extends into the interior of this part by means of .a knee 29 which is integral with the `partition 14 and provides `communication of the part 161 `(Fig. 2) `with the discharge tube 28.

The elements 1, 14, 28 and 29 are preferably formed integral with each other.

In the operation of the pump the liquid mounting in the tube 4, when the valve 9 is liftedfrom `its seat'by the suction, rises through the slots 22 and 18, the cavity 15 and the slot 26 into the turbine chamber, is forced through the slot 27 towards the compartment 16 and its extension 161 (Fig. 6) and from there through the tubes 29 and 28.

By means of the socket 30 (Fig. l) the pump can be fastened to a wall or the like.

The pump offers the great advantage of operating withoutv any packing encircling the turbine shaft, while the motor needs no separate protection `against the entrance of water.

Owing to the presence of the two compartments 15 and 16 on the samelevel above the turbine chamber the liquid under pressure above this chamber prevents the entrance of air around the turbine shaft and the return of the liquid around the turbine shaft under the action of pressure, whereby inthe gap which may form between the shaft 24 and the sleeve, the water will remain in an automatic manner below the level N indicated in Fig. l.

When the shaft should get worn, the pump still retains an output of 90%, and this even after long wear, when the water expands somewhat, the water, while the pump is not in operation, will remain in the compartment above the shaft 24 and the square portion 25 at the same level. When the pump starts working again, the water will be sucked off by the turbine in a few seconds from the worn passage between the sleeve 23 and the shaft24 up to the moment where the pressure between the two compartments has been equilibrated again. relative to the shaft. Even in that event the pump can still operate with ,a favorable output. However, such conditions will arise only after a very much extended use.

The sucking in and forcing out above the turbine without any abnormal means `thus enables the pump to operate in themost favorable conditions of equilibrium and prevents any abnormal wear of the main parts of the pump from arising.

The principal advantage offered by the apparatus is the fact that the driving device and the connection between the motor and the pump can operate in a space 14' situated above the partition 14 free from contact with the water under pressure. lt is owing to this fact that the pump retains its maximum power, for one avoids in this manner every braking effect and any special packing devices which might cause a loss of power, can be dispensed with.

The new pump works `practically without any noise. Since the coupling can be Very short, the total height of the pump can be kept very low. Owing to the great output the pump may be driven by any ordinary motor and may be made to acton piping the inner diameter of which may vary by 20 to 35 millimeters and can adapt itself to most diameters.

Tests have shown that the theoretic power requirement for lifting a given quantity of water amounts to l5- 17% of the total power absorbed, so that: the motor has an excellent output. On the other hand, the quantity of tvater required to start the pump is reduced to the quantity which suffices to till the compartments and 16 and the volume of the body in which runs the turbine rotor.

The pump as described and shown in the drawings offers also the advantage of allowing, similar as in certain manually operated pumps, the withdrawal of the valve 9 through the lower part of the pump body.

The pump is started in the same manner as all other centrifugal or piston pumps directly, for instance through an aperture provided in the pressure tube. It remains auto-starting as soon as provided with a valve which retains the water in contact with the suction organs. This valve may be located on the suction side of the pump body or at the end of the suction tube which dips into the water.

The compartments 15 and 16 need not be integral with the top part 1, but may be provided as independent part. The turbine casing 20 need not be integral with the part 2.

Figure 1 shows also that the pressure space can communicate also with the normal gap around the shaft 24 by means of a bore 32 traversing the wall of the compartment 28 and the sleeve 23 surrounding the shaft and ending above the cover 19.

Owing to this construction the air sucked in by the turbine through the gap between the inner wall of the sleeve 23 and the outer circumference of the shaft 24 cannot rise above the level of the canal 32, because there the turbine does not suck in air, but the wat-er from the pressure chamber 16, which is collected by the turbine and is returned into the compartment 16. This quantity of water is very small as compared with the water delivered by the pump. One thus attains a perfect selfstuling by the liquid itself which is sucked in.

One might also provide around the shaft 24 a ringshaped cavity 31 into which opens the bore 32. The capacity of the pump of sucking in and discharging is thereby increased and guarantees a constant performance even in case that the diameter of the shaft 24 or the bore of the sleeve 23 should become excessive.

The turbine can even start itself by contact with a very slight skin of water.

One may also provide a device which, more especially in case of ice` formation, can completely drench the pump in all its cells. To this end one can provide in the water intake tube 4 a hole 35 closed by a screw 34 and a packing 36. In order to produce self starting, the screw 34 need only be withdrawn and a nail or even a hairpin be introduced to lift the valve 9 by its shaft 38 (Fig. 3). The water on top of the valve 9 can then flow out through the tubes and drench the pump altogether. This operation is very simple and renders it unnecessary to take off each time the cap nut 12 by means of a special Spanner.

Since, after the screw 34 has been removed, air can enter the tube 4, the column of water in this tube and in any tube below cannot exert any pull on the valve 9 which will not open readily and there remain above the valve not more than 100-200 gr. water to be evacuated. In this manner the interior of the suction tube serves to empty the pump, and this valso applies even to the small quantity of water which owing to Wear of the shaft 24, coming from the pressure tube, might rise above the partition 14 in the body 1.

On stopping operation, this small quantity of water might be evacuated through a hole 39 in the indentation 40 (Fig. 1) or a hole 41 in the wall of the sleeve 23 which opens above the partition 14.

When the pump is mounted in place, the screw 34 need merely be removed before introducing the tube 4 into the cap 12 and to put it back as soon as the cap nut is put on.

As proof that the pump is self-starting, it is sufficient, after removing the valve 9 from its seat, to pour into the tube 28 a slight amount of water. It is not necessary to 4 drench the pump with water and till it from the discharge tube 28 down to the valve casing 8. It suces for the compartments 15 and 16 which communicate with the turbine, to contain some water to start the pump.

If the valve should not function properly or should have lbeen removed to repair it, the pump still remains operable and retains the same advantages regarding the intake by suction and the discharge under pressure.

On the other hand, if the pump should stop operating by accident, a little water will be present in the compartments and 16, however too little to disturb opera tion if frozen at low temperature and the pump can then be started without any danger to its parts.

During operation of the pump, no matter how strong may be the suction effect, quite particularly when the shaft 24, the boring of the sleeve 23 of the turbine 21 and the boring of the cell 2t) are worn down abnormally, the water, which has not been operated on entirely by the turbine and has partly entered between the boring of the sleeve 23 and the shaft, can be prevented from getting into the compartment 14 by means of a discharge tube 42 of small diameter (Fig. 4) which extends into the space above the bottom plate 14 on one hand and the interior of the knee 28 on the other hand, ending at 421, a little above the discharge end of the tube 42. The tube 42 must of course be packed at the point where it passes through the part 29. At the discharge opening of the tube 28 a threaded piece of tube 43 may be provided serving as a nipple for connecting a rubber tube for the distribution of the water to buckets, pails or the like or for water under pressure. Whenever the water level in the space 14 rises above the discharge opening of the tube 42, the water will be evacuated by Siphon action. When the pump stops working, the water will always remain in the compartment 14 at the level of the tube 42. During stopping the water can be evacuated through the slots 39 and 41.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details described in the foregoing specification and shown in the drawings for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

An electric, motor driven turbine pump of the liquid ring, vertical axis type, particularly adapted for domestic use, and having a pump body comprising a lower and an upper part, said lower part containing a casing adapted to accommodate the turbine, and an intake compartment disposed below said turbine, said upper part comprising a space adapted. to accommodate the motor, means for connecting the motor with the turbine, and a partition between said space and said connecting means, two separate chambers disposed at the same level and formed in said partition, a cover situated above said turbine casing and underneath said chambers, means whereby one ofsaid chambers in said partition communicates with said intake compartment, a discharge pipe integral with the upper part of the pump body, said discharge pipe having a knee extending in the interior of said space above said partition, means for connecting with said knee the other one of said chambers in said partition, and slots in Said cover whereby said chambers communicate with said turbine casing.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,552,169 Graham May 3, i 2,632,394 Andrews Mar. 24, 1953 2,639,671 Wagner May 26, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 335,586 Italy Feb. 6, 1936 372,363 Italy a July 26, 1939 

